The skinny: ScHoolboy Q is on track to become one of the big breakthrough artists of 2014. His recently released major-label debut — “Oxymoron,” which follows two independent offerings — is an early contender for hip-hop album of the year. People are already catching on, which is why there was so much buzz around ScHoolboy's high-profile showcase in Austin. The talented rhyme master performed as part of the iTunes Festival at SXSWand didn't look out of place in a lineup that included such megastars as Coldplay, Pitbull and Kendrick Lamar (Q's comrade in the Los Angeles-based hip-hop collective Black Hippy). Everything is pointing to it being ScHoolboy Q's moment. And his solid SXSW set firmly underscored that he's more than capable of grasping it.

Knights pick up first playoff win since '14BOULDER — This year's Fairview boys basketball team sure is full of surprises.
After losing five of their first eight games, the Knights rebounded to finish the regular season on a 13-2 run and found a way to win the Front Range League regular season championship. Full Story

The Boulder alt-country band gives its EPs names such as Death and Resurrection, and its songs bear the mark of hard truths and sin. But the punk energy behind the playing, and the sense that it's all in good fun, make it OK to dance to a song like "Death." Full Story